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COVID‐19 and food prices in sub‐Saharan Africa

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  • Samuel Kwaku Agyei
  • Zangina Isshaq
  • Siaw Frimpong
  • Anokye Mohammed Adam
  • Ahmed Bossman
  • Oliver Asiamah

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak on prices of maize, sorghum, imported rice and local rice in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). We estimated dynamic panel data models with controls for macroeconomic setting using general method of moments estimation. The study found that the COVID‐19 outbreak led to increases in food prices of the sampled countries. Restrictions on movements or lockdowns in the wake of COVID‐19 was associated with an increase in the price of maize only. We also found that exchange rate, inflation and crude oil prices exerted a detrimental effect on food prices. We recommend that governments of SSA countries invest in infrastructure that improves efficiencies in the food supply chain during pandemics. Providing adequate support to industries in the value chain will also improve food availability and food price stability post‐COVID‐19.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Kwaku Agyei & Zangina Isshaq & Siaw Frimpong & Anokye Mohammed Adam & Ahmed Bossman & Oliver Asiamah, 2021. "COVID‐19 and food prices in sub‐Saharan Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(S1), pages 102-113, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:afrdev:v:33:y:2021:i:s1:p:s102-s113
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-8268.12525
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bossman, Ahmed & Umar, Zaghum & Teplova, Tamara, 2022. "Modelling the asymmetric effect of COVID-19 on REIT returns: A quantile-on-quantile regression analysis," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).
    3. Bossman, Ahmed & Agyei, Samuel Kwaku, 2022. "Interdependence structure of global commodity classes and African equity markets: A vector wavelet coherence analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Kocak, Emrah & Bilgili, Faik & Bulut, Umit & Kuskaya, Sevda, 2022. "Is ethanol production responsible for the increase in corn prices?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 689-696.
    5. Asiamah, Oliver & Agyei, Samuel Kwaku & Ahmed, Bossman & Agyei, Ellen Animah, 2022. "Natural resource dependence and the Dutch disease: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    6. repec:aly:journl:202206 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Asiamah, Oliver & Agyei, Samuel Kwaku & Bossman, Ahmed & Agyei, Ellen Animah & Asucam, Joseph & Arku-Asare, Michael, 2022. "Natural resource dependence and institutional quality: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    8. Yang, Mo & Li, Yan & Dong, Dayong, 2023. "Strategic information disclosure and the cost of equity capital: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    9. Samuel Kwaku Agyei & Godwin Adolf Idan, 2022. "Trade Openness, Institutions, and Inclusive Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    10. Lotanna E Emediegwu & Obianuju O Nnadozie, 2023. "On the effects of COVID-19 on food prices in India: a time-varying approach," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(2), pages 232-249.

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